Natural Nails

Your Guide to Nail Repairs & Reinforcements

There are a variety of nail issues, from the everyday bitten-nails to the all-out chip or crack, that require you to call in reinforcements. Whether using acrylic or gel (or even a tea bag), we offer some ways to strengthen nails into long-lasting beauts.

Nail product manufacturer Wet Paint, Inc. co-owner and celebrity manicurist Julia Palmer has perfected a technique that she and her clients refer to as “The Tea Wrap.” In 1980, Palmer trained at Grace’s Nail Salon of Beverly Hills, where she learned a nail wrap, called “The Juliette” from Fabergè cosmetic titan, Juliette Marglen. Through the years Palmer tweaked this method to create her own all-natural nail wrap using no glue, just tea bags and a base coat nail strengthener. She recommends this wrap for clients with split, thin, weak, or brittle nails. “The Tea Wrap is one of the safest and quickest ways to help promote natural nail growth. Even women with sturdy nails request The Tea Wrap to get that extra protection from keyboards, housework, and gardening,” Palmer says.

1. Begin with a clean nail that is oil- and lotion-free. Shape the nail with a file and clean the cuticles to prep the nail for the wrap.2. Buff the surface of the finger.

3. Apply base coat.4. Prepare tea bag papers using a tearing method, not scissors. Simply tear the top of the tea bag off, pour out the tea, tear open at the seams, and tear small strips (about 1” x 3/8”) so that all the edges are ragged.

5. Saturate both sides of the tea paper with base coat and apply the saturated paper to the sides and end of the weak nail. Work a manicure stick to smooth and anchor paper on top and underneath the nail.

6. Dip the manicure stick into both the base coat and acetone to work out any bubbles or bumps.

7. Gently press and glide your thumb across the nail surface to smooth the wrap.

8. Apply base coat over and under the nail to seal the paper wrap to finish.